Improvement in float-valves



w. CHAMBERLAlN.

Float-Valves.

Patented Jully 7,1874.

I M'- 5 [I K 1 /v T 55%: zz- 0 INVENTOR:

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH W. CHAMBERLAIN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN FLOAT-VALVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,827, dated July 7,1874; application filed Decmber 16, 1873. i I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OSEPH W. CHAMBER- LAIN,of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts,have ill-- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Float-Valvesand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure1 represents a vertical and central sectional view of the improvedfloatvalve through the valve-chamber and ingress-pipe, and Fig. 2represents a side view of the same, with the parts of the main chamberand cap broken away to show more fully the double acting valve device.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to makeand use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, the parts marked A represent the valve-case, withinwhich is the valve or main chamber of the device, and which chamberedcase is provided with a conical or dome-shaped cap, 13, fitted to screwinto the top of said chamber, by means of a male screw=thread, a, on adownwardlyprojecting flange, b, of the cap, and a female screwthread, 0,within the chambered case A. A washer, O, on flange b of the said cap,and contiguous with projecting part b, and which latter extends flushwith the outer rim or edge of main chamber-case, renders the captight-fitting. (Jap B is also provided witha square projection, d, tofacilitate the turning for detaching and attaching the same by means ofa wrench or other appliance, when necessary. All inlet-way, D, with adiameter somewhat less than that of the valve-chamber in the maincylinder or case A, opens into its side, and a broad flange, E, at leastan inch in width, projecting out from a very short and thick flange, e,at right angles to the cylinder A, serves for attaching or coupling apipe, F, with it. Flange E is provided with a male screw-thread, f.Inlet-pipe F is provided with a flange, g, and by means of a nut, G,having a female screw-thread, g, on the inner surface of its flange parth, which nut is first slipped onto pipe F, and up close to its flange g.The said flange g of this inlet-pipe is brought snugly up to the rim offlange E, making a tight joint by screwing the said nut G onto theflange E of the valve-chamber. A

nut, H, may also operate in conjunction with the one just mentioned,when necessary.

Chamber A contains a set of valves, I J, an ranged on a stem, K, andwhich valves are double-acting, by means of a. combined lever, O, andfloat device, to be attached to the latter. Stem K is a cylindricalpiece of metal, having parings carved 0% on three sides, w, above and toa short distance below three projections or knobs, 7c, nearly half-waybetween the opposite ends of said stem K'. Valve I .is much smaller thanvalve J, is conical or domeshaped, and has a downwardly-projectin gflange, z, which incloses a washer, j, placed in a slot of the valve,and through which washer passes a small stem, Z, of metal piece K, whichlittle stem is provided with a screw-thread, by which means valve I isscrewed onto it, or rather this stem l is screwed into a socket of thesaid valve-piece I. Valve J is somewhat similar in shape to valve I,being conical or dome-shaped, with its apex cut off, and pro vided witha round groove or hole throughits center, and it is also slotted out soas to leave a downwardlyprojecting flange, m, and one, it, provided witha screw-thread, by which means a nut, Q, is screwed on, thereby keepingin place a washer, R, within the said slot. This valve J is firstslipped onto the stem K, and then valve I and combined washer j arescrewed onto the small screw-stem l of piece K, when, if the said stem Kis held in an upright position, it will be seen that the larger valvefalls onto the knobs 70, leaving a small space between its top rim andthe bottom edge or rim of valve I, and also that three notches, 0, areout through the edge or rim of the upper end of stem K, to communicateseverally with the grooves down the sides of the said stem K.

' When this valve device is in position within the chambered case A theflange part m of valve J rests upon a flange, S, projecting from thewalls of the main chamber at right angles to the flange M, and the smallvalve I rests upon the top rim of this larger valve J, the stem Kattached to it projecting or hanging down from it through a cylindricalneck, L, of the main chambered case A, and coming in contact therebywith a lever, O. Lever O is pivoted on the smooth shaft 1) of. athumbscrew, P, which has a smaller shaft or of less diameter than theformer, provided with a screw-thread, by which means it is fitted to ashoulder, U, cast as a part of outlet-pipe M. This lever O has a tubularpart or thimble, N, cast on it, as shown in Fig. 2, which thimble 0rtubular part of said lever turns on the smooth shaft part 1) ofthumb-screw P. To one arm 0 of lever O is attached a float, which, withthe rising or falling of the water in the tank, operates the stem K upor down, as the case may be. Outlet-pipe M opens into the side andbottom of valve-chamber below the flange S of said chamber. A continualpressure of water through inlet-way D is exerted upon both valves,sufficient to prevent any escape of water through outlet-pipe M, thoughin case a little did escape it would do no harm or prevent the otherwiseperfect operating of the valve device. When the water in the tank falls,or the water-line lowers the float attached to arm 0 of lever O, the armV of said lever raises the stem K of the valve device, and consequentlyraises valve I attached thereto, until knobs 7c of said stem come. incontact with the nut Q, attached to larger valve J, thus allowing waterto enter the intervening space between said valves and pass throughnotches 0, leading into the channels or ducts in the sides of stem K,which allow the water to flow down between the inner wall of groovedvalve J and said grooved-surface stem K, and thence into and throughoutletpipe M into the tank. If the water in the tank continues to lower,valve J is raised up from and off of flange S of main chamber A, on andby knobs or projections 70 of said stem K, which action admits of thepassage of a much greater quantity of water, both valves now being openand whether there be greater or less pressure of water through inletpipeD the flow of water into the tank will be regulated perfectly with therising and falling.

of the float.

I do not claim the coupling mechanism F, G, and E herein described.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my float-valve iswell adapted to be used in small as well as large tanks, and also forthe admission of water into such tanks under both great and smallpressure. For instance, if the pressure is great, a suiflcient quantityof water will enter the tank when the small valve Iis open, and it canhe opened by a short lever and a comparatively small float, which can beconveniently used in a small tank. Then, again, if the pressure of wateris not great the same float and lever will be quite sufficient to raiseboth valves, thus admitting the proper supply of water to the tank undera low pressure.

It will be seen, therefore, that my float-valve can be readily appliedto the various-sized tanks, and the operation be satisfactory, whateverthe pressure of water may be, thus obviating the objections tofloat-valves as heretofore constructed, which have to be adapted andarranged to the size of the tank and the pressure of the water. Thiswill be understood by reference to Fig. 1, where, if only the largevalve were used under considerable pressure of water, the length oflever and size of float would be insufficient to raise the valve. Ifpreferred in any case, two or more valves, movable on the stem-valve thesame as Valve J, may be employed.

Having described my improvementsin floatvalves, whatI claim therein asnew and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with chambered case A,

of the inlet-way D, outletpipe M, valvestcm K, and valves I and J,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH W. CHAMBERLAIN. Witnesses JEROME A. KINSMAN, EDWIN E. MOORE.

